Combined Churches Hurstbridge | Good Friday Outdoor Service 10am 3rd of April 2026

 

Contemplative Nature Walk | 4:00pm-5:30pm Sunday 6th April 2025

NOTE!! CHANGE OF VENUE!!!  

We've changed the location to the Mernda Wetlands to bring the walk closer to where the majority of you live! Tell anyone who may not be aware that we are not starting from Brinawa Reserve!!

4:00pm-5:30pm Sunday 6th April 2025 

Worship Focus: Join us on a Contemplative Nature Walk. 

A contemplative walk is an invitation to slow down & spend time in the outdoors enjoying God’s amazing creation. 

Set in the beautiful South Morang Wetlands, we meet at the corner of Glenwood avenue and Wilton Vale Rd, Mernda, then we will spend time engaging our senses; connecting with nature, our bodies & God.  

Meet at the corner of Glenwood avenue and Wilton Vale Rd, Mernda (Map below) 

BYO refreshments 

Check here and on our Facebook page if the weather is inclement.

🍁 Autumn 2025 Newsletter | M&E Boutros 🍁

  Autumn 2025

Greetings friends,

Autumn’s just about here and the leaves are beginning to colour and fall from the trees. That means Easter is not far off! 

As we come to Good Friday and then Easter Sunday take a moment to pause and contemplate the God who comes to us in Christ!

.

May God the Father bless us,


May Christ take care of us,


May the Holy Spirit enlighten us all the days of our life.

The Lord be our defender and keeper of body and soul,


both now and for ever, to the ages of ages. 

Amen

We’ve attached a short news-letter to give you bit of an update Click here

We want to say a huge thankyou to the many who encourage, support and pray for us and for Haven — You are so appreciated! 

Sincerely,

Martin and Esmae

Pre-Shrove Tuesday Pancake Tea | 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday 02.03

Note - We're at 97 Schotters Road (Not number 7)

Shrove Tuesday is a Christian festival celebrated in many countries across the globe. It falls on the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent – 4th of March in 2025. Lent is a period of around six weeks leading up to Easter. During Lent, many Christians give up luxuries to remember when Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to fast and pray.

The date of Shrove Tuesday changes from year to year. But one thing stays the same — it’s always 47 days before Easter Sunday. And yes, it’s always on a Tuesday!

The name comes from the old word ‘shriving’, which means to listen to someone’s sins and forgive them. In Anglo-Saxon England, Christians would go to church on Shrove Tuesday to confess their sins and clean their soul. In other words, they would be ‘shriven’. For us, we confess our sins directly to God, at any time, to the One who hears and forgives.

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and Canada, Shrove Tuesday has another name -- Pancake Day! Traditionally during Lent, Christians used to give up rich, tasty foods such as butter, eggs, sugar and fat. So Shrove Tuesday was the last chance to eat them – and what better way to do so than with a delicious pancake!

Come join us the Sunday before for a pre-Shrove Tuesday Pancake meal. We will provide pancakes (GF), ice-cream and maple syrup. Bring along whatever for you is a fav topping!

Note: Activities this term are not all at the same place or time. 

Check blog or FB for more info

SMS  0418 382449 | therevhead@icloud.com | haven-community.blogspot.com | Facebook  

HAVEN | MERNDA TERM 1 2025

 

Haven's on again for this term! You are welcome to come and participate

This is an overview of the term's activities.

For more detail, there will be separate posts about each activity.

23/02 — 4:30pm-5:30pm: Worship Focus

Gather around the Communion table

Draw strength as we reflect on Psalm 23 

Includes  refreshments. Venue: UCA, 97 Schotters Rd, Mernda

02/03 — 5pm-6pm: Pre-Shrove Tuesday pancakes! 

Bring your fav fillings & join in pancakes for tea & conversation. 

Venue: UCA, 97 Schotters Rd, Mernda

09/03 — 3:30pm-5:30pm: CHOCOLAT (PG-13)

Join us to watch this charming Lenten fable. 

Bring a sample of your favourite chockys to share! 

Venue: M&E’s place, 13 Kylie Place Montmorency 

NB: Long Weekend, some may be away

16/03 — 4:30pm-5:30pm: What if God was one of us? 

A discussion about the meaning of Easter for week:2 of Lent. 

Includes refreshments. Venue: UCA, 97 Schotters Rd, Mernda

23/03 — 4:30pm-5:30pm: “I’ve got questions…!” 

A Q&A discussion on faith stuff around Easter.

You can send questions in beforehand if you wish. 

(See contact details below). Includes refreshments. 

Venue: UCA, 97 Schotters Rd, Mernda

30/03 — 4:00pm-5:30pm: Note - No Haven for ‘regulars’ this week. 

Instead there will be an orientation session for those interested in 

starting their own local version of Haven. includes light refreshments. 

Let me know if you are interested.

Venue: M&E’s place, 13 Kylie Place Montmorency 

6/04 — 4:00pm-5:30pm: Worship Focus: Contemplative Nature Walk. 

A contemplative walk is an invitation to slow down & spend time in the outdoors enjoying God’s amazing creation. Set in the beautiful Plenty Gorge Parklands we will spend time engaging our senses; connecting with nature, our bodies and God. 

Meet at Brinawa Reserve, Cnr Brinawa Drv & Goolgung Grv, Greensborough. 

BYO refreshments (NB: Check FB/Blog if weather is inclement)

13/04 — 5:00pm-6:00pm: Palm Sunday

Bring a plate to share for tea, as we remember 

the last seven days of Jesus life. 

Venue: UCA, 97 Schotters Rd, Mernda

20/04 — 10:00am-11:30am: Easter Sunday (Times to be confirmed)

Join in with our friends at Diamond Valley Baptist Church

to celebrate Easter. 

Venue: 309 Diamond Creek Rd, Plenty

Note: Activities this term are not all at the same place or time. 

Check blog or FB for more info

SMS  0418 382449 | therevhead@icloud.com | haven-community.blogspot.com | Facebook  

Christmas Joy!

It was Skyhooks, who fifty years ago sang:

Horror movie right there on my TV

Horror movie and it's blown a fuse

Horror movie, it's the six-thirty news

Horror movie, it's the six-thirty news

Shockin' me right outa my brain

I reckon the 24/7 news cycle in 2024 is even more shockin'. So many, never-ending challenges facing our old world, and anxiety levels are at an all time high for so many people!

And yet, the Christmas story is a story of great joy in the midst of chaos, disruption, despair and upheaval. Born in a cow-shed during a time of political and religious turmoil, the birth of Jesus is met with songs of joy by those who were thirsting for peace, the Shalom of God.

The angels powerfully proclaim: "Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those who he favours." (Luke 2:14)

The disruptive message of Christmas comes to give hope and courage; and Mary responds with a defiant affirmation of joy: "My soul magnifies the Lord and my Sprit rejoices in God my saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant!" (Luke 1:46-47)

Go and read again the story of Christmas, and allow the words to settle deep into your heart, challenging, strengthening and renewing you, drawing you closer to our foundational story -- that into this messy and uncertain world -- God entered in the form of a vulnerable child and lived amongst us. John puts it: "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood." (John 1:14 MSG)

May you have great joy and a deep sense of peace as you ponder the Christmas story!

Come and join us for our last Haven gathering of the year. We're going to have a Christmas meal together! 4.30pm Sunday 8th December 2024. 

If you are able to join us can you send me an SMS?

Haven is on next - 4.30pm Sunday 27th October 2024

 

 On once a fortnight, let us know if you can make it! 

Haven week:1 Let us know if you're joining us!

Hey everyone! 

We are going to start meeting as Haven, a new faith-community in Mernda, beginning THIS coming Sunday (13/10) and then every second week till December.

Because it's out first meeting, we aren't quite sure on numbers, but we want to put out  enough tables an have enough food to cater for everyone --  but we don't want to set up for too many and then rattle around in too big a space!

Can you do me a favour? If you are planning to join us (or know someone else who is) but you haven't yet indicated that -- Can you send me an SMS or email, that would be helpful! (therevhead@icloud.com or 0418 382449)

***   ***  ***   ***   ***

We’ll be meeting every second Sunday afternoon in term:4, starting off in the Uniting Church Hall in Mernda with a time of reflection, a time of discussion and a yummy meal!

The first week will be 4.30pm Sunday 13th of October! If you or any friends you know live in or near the Mernda, Woollert, South Morang, Doreen, Woodstock areas and are interested in exploring a faith community, please let them know!

RSVP either by email: therevhead@icloud.com or 0418 382449. 

                                                           ***   ***  ***   ***   ***

SMS: 0418 38 24 49 | Email: HERE | Martin's Blog: HERE
Check Facebook page for any changes to schedule: Haven - Mernda HERE

Haven | Mernda | 4:30pm Sunday 13th October Meeting!

Hey everyone! 

Exciting news - We are hoping to start meeting as Haven, a new faith-community in Mernda, very soon.

We’ll be meeting every second Sunday afternoon in term:4, starting off in the Uniting Church Hall in Mernda with a time of reflection, a time of discussion and a yummy meal!

The first week will be 4.30pm Sunday 13th of October! If you or any friends you know live in or near the Mernda, Woollert, South Morang, Doreen, Woodstock areas and are interested in exploring a faith community, please let them know!

RSVP either by email: therevhead@icloud.com or 0418 382449. 

------------------------------------

SMS: 0418 38 24 49 | Email: HERE | Martin's Blog: HERE
Check Facebook page for any changes to schedule: Haven - Mernda HERE

Boutros Spring 2024 update

Greetings friends!

Happy Spring everyone! 

It’s been so good, hasn’t it, having a few warmer days and to see some green shoots on the trees! Spring is definitely on the way. With all the things happening in our world at the moment — take heart! 

We’ve been encouraged by this awesome promise: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).
This is to fill you in on what we have been up to and what’s on our plate as we go through Spring 2024.

If you are interested in having a look at our newsletter click on the link -- HERE.

Exciting news - We are hoping to launch Haven, meeting every second Sunday afternoon in term: 4, starting off in the Uniting Church Hall in Mernda. If you or a friend are interested, contact me HERE. 

More details in newsletter! You can also keep in touch via Facebook -- HERE.

Peace and Grace

Martin and Esmae Boutros

Haven Community Blog

 We are hoping soon, (some time later this year), to start a new faith community called Haven in the Mernda area.  Click on the picture to see the Haven blog page:

Take note, everyone -- Haven community is NOT yet active, we are still doing the groundwork! We will let everyone know when we are ready to start.

A New Faith Community?

 WHAT? 

We are hoping soon, (some time later this year), to start "Haven" in the Mernda area. We are praying that Haven can grow into a faith community that is a genuinely safe space in which to explore faith with others and participate in the way of Jesus. 

Take note, everyone -- Haven is NOT yet active, we are still doing the groundwork! We will let let you know more information closer to when we are ready to start!

There are many people with a deep spiritual hunger as they grapple with questions of identity and meaning, and there are also many people who used to do church or who have deep questions about the Christian faith as they have seen it -- And there are so many living locally, who are facing a range of  life challenges without a community to encourage them. Loneliness and poverty are just two such issues.

We want Haven to be a compassionate community that forms over conversation, prayer and food rather than just starting with a traditional morning service with songs and a sermon (tho’ there’s nothing wrong with that)!  

To that end, we are thinking that initially, the idea will be to hold our regular gatherings either in a home (or in a cosy hall), maybe early Sunday evenings over shared meals. In time, of course, that could well evolve into other times, styles and activities. 

There are three ingredients to this:
WAYS: Taste-testing the ancient ways and wisdom of Jesus together. 
WORKS: Seeking to act as instruments of peace in our local communities and beyond. 
WORDS: Engaging in life-giving conversation around faith, meaning & identity. 

WHY? 
You may be aware, the area all the way from Donnybrook to the north-west of Melbourne through to Yan Yean in the east, and up north towards Beveridge and Eden Park — and down to Woollert through to Doreen is a massive growth area! Many houses are going up, and thousands more people will be moving in over the next 10-20 years. 

Already there is an awesome placemaking programme and new baptist church starting further west in the Donnybrook area, and there are other church groups doing amazing work too. We’re looking more towards the East, broadly in the Woollert - South Morang - Mernda - Woodstock area. 

We want to birth a missional community that could in time partner with other congregations and agencies to strengthen the emerging neighbourhoods. Initially it would be through the friendships that arise in connecting with other local people through work, sport, school and other such activities. In time it could mean initiating or partnering in some sort of social enterprise or meeting space that meets the needs of the community. 

HOW? 
We’ve spent the last many weeks considering how Haven could work; doing some research, lots of prayer and having great conversations with insightful people to test the idea and tweak the planning! 

During second term, it will be time to invite some key people to meet up and to run the idea past them more formally. That will most likely be April/May.

After that we want to ask some of these to prayerfully consider becoming the core group and to then meet from time to time for  for prayer, some orientation and to ‘road test’ the idea.  

Some time after that we would agree on a timeline and date to invite others to come and join in.  

Please pray with us so that we find local, mature people of faith to join us for this stage of the journey. If any names come to mind - send me a message with their details!  

Please be praying for the people, homes and neighbourhoods around the Mernda, Doreen, Woollert, Woodstock and South Morang areas!  

Pray too for the other church plants getting established through these northern suburbs! 

Starting something new like this needs the Spirit of Jesus to bring about life and fruit! We can’t do that ourselves! 

As Paul puts it: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1Corinthians 3: 6-7).